Black Greek Step Shows

Abstract

African dance has historically had utilitarian purposes including for religious ceremonies, rites of passage, and storytelling. The percussive form of stepping is a dance form that is said to have originated in the 1800s as a communication tactic among slaves when slave owners refused to allow them to use drums. Since the 1900s, stepping to boast of group pride and unity has been a tradition among African American fraternities and sororities who are referred to as Black Greek Letter Organizations (BGLOs). With its blend of chanting and dancing, stepping is stylistically akin to the South African gumboot dance and the Urhobo udje dance in its elements of competition, creativity, skill, and synchronicity. Though Black Greek Letter Organizations step primarily for one-upmanship and to show pride in their organizations, the oral tradition of its African roots is indisputable and consciously embraced. In the twenty-first century stepping has grown to be a global movement performed by all ages. Recent iterations of stepping portrayed in popular culture reflect its fusion with hip-hop, its incorporation into drill teams, school and church competitions igniting concern that the commercialization and commodification of stepping will disconnect it from its African roots.